Cultivator.



,"Ptented may 27, |902.

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No. v7\)I,OD8.

J. B. BARTH0L0MEW.l

(Application fuea my. 5, 1900.) (No Model.)

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Nn. 70|,008. Patented May 27V, |902.

J. B. BARTHULOMEW.

'CULTIVATOR (Application led Nov. 5. 1900.] (NO IMDdel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' No. mums.

Patented May 27, |902. A J. B. BARTHLUMEW.

CULTIVATOR.

(Application led Nav. 5, 1900.)

(No ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A I I Wn Essai w: mams PETERS co. Puma-uno.. wAsHmorou, u. c.

rie .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN I3. BARTHOLOMEV, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AVERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

cuLTlvAToRf SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,008, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed November 5. 1900. Serial No. 35,478. .(No modell) To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN B. BnR'rHoLoMEw, acitizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oultivators,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation in vertical section on the line occ of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is aside elevation in section on the line y y of Fig. 3, the spring lifting device being omitted. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the seat-frame and drag-bars removed. Fig. 4 is a sideview, and

Fig. 5 is a plan View, of the drag-bar coupling l and pipe-sleeve enlarged. Fig. 6 is a plan view,enlarged,of the drag-barcoupling. Figs.

7 and 8 are detached detail views of the dragbar-coupling spring holding-lever.

This invention relates to cultivators and similarimplements, it consisting in providing such implements with connecting devices between the shovel-gangs and the supportingframe of such nature that several novel results are accomplish ed. I provide, among others, novel means whereby the plow-beams, with their shovel-gan gs, are yieldably and independently held in their normal predetermined positions; also,novel means for the positive vertical adjustment of the shovel-gangs, so that they will be automatically supported yieldably,either horizontally oron lines somewhat inclined above or below the horizontal, and means whereby the shovel-gangs will be held in the manner described when at work, but also will be automatically lifted after they commence to leave the lines oftheir working positions. I employ two interdependent spring-controlled s u p ports,one adapted to exert a lifting force upon the shovelgangs when the latter are elevated beyond a certain point, but which are rendered non-effective or dead within a certain prescribed range of the vertical movement of the shovelgangs when the latter are acting under normal conditions, and the other spring-cony trolled support adapted to hold the shovelgangs yieldably in their normal Y predetermined working position and which is effective at all points of the vertical adjustment of the shovel-gangs.

The invention further consists in the mechanism whereby the various movements and actions are attained, as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Theinvention may be applied to nearly every form ot' cultivator now in use, and for the purpose of illustration I have shown it applied to a cultivator of approved form, in which lis the arched axle having the groundwheels 2 3 and revolubly coupled to side bars 4 5,'the forward ends of the latter being coupled to the tongue 6 by transverse bar 7.

8 is the varched shovelgang-supporting frame, having inwardly-turned lower ends 9 10 and connected by clips 1l 12 to the bars 4 5 and bya clip 13 to the rearend of the tongue G.

14 15 are braces connecting the lower part of the arch-frame 8 and the forward ends of the side bars 4 5, by which means the side bars, tongue, and shovel-gang arch-frame are rigidly connected together.

Embracing each of the inwardly-turned horizontal ends 9 and 10 of the arch-frame 8 is a sleeve 16, revoluble upon the frame ends and held from lateral movement by any suitable means, such as collets 17. Mounted upon each of the sleeves 16 is a block 18, each block having a vertical lug 19 Lprojecting from its rear side, upon which the plowbeams or forked clamps 2O of the plow-beams 21 are pivoted by vertical pins 22, so that the plowbeams are `free to swing laterally upon thc pins 22 as centers and also turn around the ends 9 1'0 by their connection to the revoluble sleeves 1G. The blocks 18 are provided with set-screws 2 3, by which they may bc rigidly connected to the sleeves 1G when they are adjusted to the required point thereon laterally.

Rising from each of the blocks 18 are ears 24, in which bell-crank levers are pivoted, as shown at 25, the longer upright arm 26 of the bell-crank lever being provided with a rearwardly-extended bar 27 and with the shorter arm 28, extended forward and projecting over the sleeve 16 and block 18.

Extending forwardly from the bottom of the block 18 is a lug 29, up through which a bolt 30 passes. The bolt is provided on its lower end with a wing-nut 31 and passing by IOC) its upper end through the outer end o'f an arm 32, the inner end of this arm being pivoted between the ears 24 by the same bolt 25 which holds the bell-crank lever, as shown.

The bolt 30 is surrounded by a section of gas-pipe 33, and the gas-pipe and the bolt inclosed thereby are surrounded by a coiled spring 34, which may be termed a beamcontrol spring, the rounded head 35 of bolt serving as an abutment or rest against which the lower surface of the horizontal arm 28 of the bell-crank lever acts, as shown.-

Depending from the rear ends of the side bars 4 5 and secured thereto, preferably by the axle-securing clips, are two brackets 36 with rearwardly extended lower ends 37, which aord means yfor the support of the plow-beams 21 through the catches 38,which when the plow-beams are elevated will engage the hooked ends 37 and be supported thereby. The brackets 36 are provided with open slots 39, through which the bars 27 pass, as shown. The bars 27 are provided with notches 40, which engage transverse bolts 41, Apassing through the slots 39 in bracket 36, by which means the bell-crank levers 26 28 may be adjusted and supported at any desired point. By this arrangement the springs 34 exert their force upward against the bellcrank levers to retain the plow-beams normally in their working position, and this position may be varied by adjusting the bars 27 along the brackets 36 by setting them along the notches 40. Thus if the bar 27 be set forward the forward shorter end 28 of the bell-crank lever will be depressed and correspondingly depress the forward part of the block 18 and elevate the rear end, and vice versa, by adjusting the bars 27 rearward. By this means the depth of cnt' may be very readily altered by merely adjusting the bars 27 in the brackets 36. l

On the inner'end of each of the sleeves 16 two arms 41 42 are formed,- the arm 42 vpivotally connected to the lower end of a hooked bar 43 and the arm 41 coupled toa perforated adjusting-plate 46 and this plate in turn to the lowerend of 'a spring 44. The plate 46 affords means for adjusting the spring to increase or decrease its tension, as required. The upper ends of thesprings 44 are connected to the upper hooked ends 45 of the bars 43. The bars are arranged to partially embrace theframe 8, so that the springs 44 come on the opposite side of the arch-frame from the bar,as shown. By this means the arch-frame serves as a guide for the bar 44, but without exerting any appreciable frictional force thereon. When the spring and bar 43 44 are in theY relative positions shownin Figs. 1 and 3, they are approximately inactive with re-4 spect to bodily lifting the beam. The arm 41 is Vso situated that the upward pull of the spring44 is ,nearly in line vertically through theI vertical radial line of the frame ends 9 10, so that the springs 44 are rendered substantially non-eective when the spring is in its lowermost position or when the shovel-gangs are in their normal working position. Owing to the shortness of the arms 41 42 and the length of the plow-beams 2l the leverage of the spring will be so slight that the outer or shovel ends may move through a considerable arc of a circle before they will appreciably change the relative positions of the springs44andtheirconnecting-arms. Hence the shovels may be run over and adapt themselves to the ordinary unevenness of the surface of the ground without affecting or unlocking the spring-held bar 43. If, however, it is desired to elevate the plow-beams-as, for instance, when the machine is to be moved from place to placethe springs 44 will yield to a forced upward movement of the beams 21, which movement will cause the arm 42 to be thrown over forward of the central vertical line of the sleeve 16, so that thereafterthe spring exerting its upward force in the rear of the sleeve will at the same time exert a downward force upon the bar 43 forward of the sleeve, and thus assist in the further'elevation of the plow-beams. In other words, the spring 44 and bar 43 coact in a double capacity: rst, to hold the plow-beams in their normal working positions and held from upward movement to a certain extent, and, second, to assist in lifting the plow-beams after they have been elevated to the slight extent sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring upon the upper position of the arm 42, and thus reduce to a minimum the force required to elevate the beams sufficiently to engage them with the brackets 36 37.

The double-acting springs 44 and the connected bars 43 also serve another important purpose, and that is in coaction with the spring-controlled sleeve and plow-beam coupling to hold the plow-beams with sufficient firmness to cause the gangs to perform their required functions when the resistance is not above the normal, but which will yield sufficiently to enable the gangs to perform their functions without undue strains being transf mitted to the shovels or other parts, or when the plow-beams are to be elevated when not in use, and also yieldable todownward pressure when it is required to force the shovels deeper into the soil. The plow-beams are thus vertically yieldably and independently supported from the framework and with a positive vertical adjustment, the beams being free to play laterally. The plow-beams are also adapted to be elevated when not in use without resistance from the springs or levers, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, the

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dotted lines indicating the relative positions of the block, sleeve, and bell-crank lever when the plow-beams are elevated. To increasey the pressure and effect of the spring 34, the nut 31 is screwed up to more compress the spring and the lever-arm 38 correspondingly adjusted toward the stop 35. n

The section of gas-pipe 33 is considerably shorter than bolt 30 to form a positive stop to the arm 32 and lever 2G 28 when the shovels have reached the desired limit of depth. I/Vhen the wing-nut 3l is set up until the gas-pipe section and the arm 32 come in contact, the spring tension is taken out entirely, and then'by adjusting the bar 27 forward to cause the arm 28 to engage the stop 35 and hold the beams from depression below the predetermined level the depth can be regulated and carried uniformly and the Weight of the operators foot or hand allowed to rest upon the plow-beams without causing them to cut deeper into the soil than itis intended they shall go. Thus means are provided whereby the shovel-gang may be stopped from going beyond a certain predetermined depth, and so that the operator can carry the weight of his feet or hands upon the gangs without pressing them into the ground beyond their required depth, and by means of the spring adjustments the operator can set the shovels to yield under foot-pressure, as and for the purpose before described.

Some conditions of the soil require the downWardly-yieldable arrangementaa for instance, where the soil is uneven or where dead-furrows occur-under which conditions itis requisite to be able to press the shovels downward while crossing such low places to cause the shovels to follow down into the hollows and then automatically return to their normal position when the depression is passed. On good level ground, on the other hand, this downWardly-yieldable arrangement is not required, and in that case the tension can be removed from the coupling, as before stated. Another great advantage gained by this arrangement is that the plow-beam, being entirely free to swing laterally about the pins 22 as centers, will move in a horizontal plane under all conditions of adjustment and will maintain the same depth' of cut at which it is set when thrown to either side of the line of draft in which it travels. This advantage is not attainable by any other form of shovel-gang connection with which I am acquainted except in those cases where elongated lever-arms were extended back from the pipe-box or beam-coupling-as, for instance, in the construction shown in my .earlier application, No. 3,186, led January 29, 1900but in such cases relatively long chains and springs were used for connecting the backwardly-extending bar with the f ramebars above. The present construction is superior to those in that, among other things, the controlling-spring 34C is arranged close to the coupling and is at all times in substantially the saine relation thereto. I dispense with chains or other swinging and loosely-held parts.

The parts at 28 and 29 serve as abutments, one on the beam-coupling and the other stationary, for taking the thrust of the springs, and with my devices the stopping of the descent of the beam can be made absolutely positive in the Way above described-a result that cannot be attained when use is made of the suspension springs and chains behind the beam-coupling. The arm or bar 32 may be regarded as a spring retaining device, which, together with the abutment-arm at 29, holds the spring in properposition on the coupling in whatever position the beam may be adjusted.

The advantages of a compression-spring for controlling the beam in its working position are important. It is more compact, and when it is inactive there are no loose or dangling parts to be an annoyance, catch on obstructions, or become lost. Heretofore it has been necessary for the driver to leave his seat or operating position at the rear of the cultivator in order to adj ust such a spring to regulate the depth of action of the shovels according to the nature of the ground Which the machine is cultivating. I believe myself to be the first to provide the compression-spring or any control-springwhichisinactivein the nonworking position of the beam and is situated in front of the horizontal pivot of the plowbeam with means extending Within reach of the operator when in his Working position by Which the compression control-spring may be adjusted during the progress and operation of the machinethat is to say, by which the said spring is manually controlled at all desired times.

It will be :readily understood that the device embodying the invention can be modified Without departing from the spirit thereof. Some of the ends accomplished can be attained by dispensing with the spring-retainer at 32 and holding the upper end of the spring in proper positionlby other means-as, for instance, by extending the bolt 30 upward and passing it loosely through the abutment-arm 28. The spring 34 can be arranged substantially similarly if supported upon the stationary element, as the bell-lever 26 28, the coupling being arranged to bear against it or move away from it, according to the adjustment of the beam.

`What I claim isl. The combination of the plow-beam swinginglaterally and movable vertically, the beamcoupling, the controlling-spring supported upon the beam-coupling and acting to snstain the beam when the latter is in working position, and a manual spring controlling mechanism for said spring extending within reach of the operator in his Working position substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the laterally-swinging vertically-movable plow-beam, the coupling at the front end of the beam, the liftingspring and the controlling-sprin g, said springs being arranged substantially as set forth, the one arranged to be inactive or approximately inactive When the beam is in Working position, and the other arranged in front of the beam-coupling to be inactive when the beam is elevated from its Working positions, an abutment or stop mounted to move toward lOO .TIO

ing plow-beam hinged to an axial support and the control-spring in front of said axial support and arranged to be inactive from the time when the beam leaves its operative or approximately horizontal position, and means for manually controlling the operative resistance of said control-spring from the operators position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the vertically-swinging plow-beam hinged to an axial support, the control-spring and the relatively stationary abutment for said spring, the latter being arranged to be inoperative when the beam departs from its operative approximately horizontal position, and means for manually controlling from the operators situation the position of said abutment, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the vertically-swinging plow-beam hinged to an vaxial support, the control-spring and the adjustable positive relatively stationary stop for the con- .trol-spring, substantially, as set forth.

8. The combination of the vertically-movable plow-beam hinged to an axial support, a control-spring movable bodily up and down when the plow-beam moves vertically, a stationary abutment or stop against which the spring bears when the plow is in working position, and means for manually controlling from the operators situation the position of said abutment, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the vertically-swinging plow-beam, the hinging-support for the plow-beam mounted on a horizontal axis, a y control spring the two oppositely acting abutments for said spring both connected to the said hinge-support, and means extending to the operators position for adjusting one of said abutments, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the verticallyswinging plow-beam, the coupling on a horizontal axis, the control-spring and the two abutments for the spring both laterally adjustable substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of the plow-beam. the vertically-swinging coupling for the beam, the control-spring, the abutment for the spring rigid with the coupling, the opposing abutment for the spring and means for confining the free end of the spring when the abutments are separated from each other, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of the plow-beam, the vertically-Swingin g coupling for the beam, the lifting-spring arranged to exert an upward force to lift the beam at the rear of the horizontal beam-pivot and a` downward force at the front of said pivot, and the supplemental control-spring supported on the coupling independently of the beam, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of the verticallyswinging plow-beam ,the control-sprin g adapted to exert lifting force upon the beam wheny the latter is in its working position, an abutment for one end of the spring, and two abutments for the other end of the spring, the latter abutments being separable when the spring is inactive, substantially as set forth.

14:. The combination with the verticallyswinging plow-beam and the control-spring supported independently of the beam and acting vertically upon the beam when it is in its operative positions, of the adjustable stopbar having a hinge connection with t-he beam and adapted to vary the positions of activity of the spring, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination of the verticallyswinging plow-beam, the abutment or stop movable with the plow-beam, the relatively stationary stop or abutment, yielding stop de- ,vices between the two abutments, rigid stop devices between the two abutments, and means for bringing the said stop devices alternately into action, substantially as set forth.

16. In a cultivator the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam swingable laterally and vertically, a coupling member between the beam and frame, two arms forwardly extending from said coupling, a control-spring between said arms for sustaining the beam in working position, and an abutment for confining and releasing one of said arms.

17. In a cultivator, thecombination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingalole laterally and vertically and a manually-controlled compression controlspring acting to support said beam when the latter is in its working position and inactive when the beam is elevated.

18. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, and a manually-'controlled compression controlspring for the Abeam situated in front of the horizontal pivot of the beam.

19. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, amanually-controlled compression control-spring for the beam, and an abutment on the main frame against which the spring is adapted to act when the beam is in working position, the spring being disconnectible mechanically IOC.

from said abutment when the beam is in non- Working position.

20. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, a compression control-spring for said beam, and a manually-operated pressure-varying device supported on the frame, through which device said spring is controlled, said pressure-varying device being disconnectible mechanically from the spring, the latter remaining in place.

2l. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, and a manually-controlled compression controlspring supported on the vertically-vibrating parts connected with the plow-beam and arranged to have both of its ends remain in substantially the saine positions relatively to the beam while the beam is up or down.

22. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, a manually-controlled abutment on said frame, and a control-spring for the beam arranged to vibrate bodily around the horizontal axis of the beam, said spring acting against said abutment when the beam is in working position.

In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, a compression control-spring exerting downward pressure in tront of the beam pivot upon parts connected with the beam and acting to support the beam in working position, the beam being swingable laterally while subjected to said pressure, and manual devices operative by the user of the machine in his working position for regulating the workin g pressure of the spring.

24. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swinging laterally and vertically, a compression control-spring acting downward in front of the horizontal pivot of the beam, and a lever controlled by the operator for exerting pressure or resistance upon one end of the spring and movable relatively to the spring to vary such pressure or resistance.

25. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, a compression control-spring acting to regulate the beam when in working position, a verticallyvibrating abutment at one end of the said spring, and means for adjusting said abutment to vary the working pressure of the spring.

26. In a cultivator the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swin gable laterally and vertically, a compression control-spring acting downward foi'- ward of the horizontal pivot of the beam to regulate the latter in its working position, and means independent of the beam for manually varying the working presssure of said spring.

27. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto and swingable laterally and vertically, a compression control-spring acting downward forward of the horizontal pivot of the beam to regulate the latter in its working position, a movable abutment support-ed from said frame against which abutment the spring acts when the beam is in Working position, and a handlever for adjusting said abutment to vary the working pressure of the spring.

28. In a cultivator, the combination of the main frame, the plow-beam pivoted thereto, swingable vertically and laterally, and adjustable laterally, and a manually-controlled compression control-spring acting to support the beam in working position, the controlling means of said spring comprising a laterally-adjustable abutment for the spring, said spring and abutment being separable by the elevation of the beam.

29. In a cultivator the combination of the beam carrying arch bar, the plow beam mounted to swing vertically on a hinge or pivot, the lifting-spring arranged to exert a lifting force on the beam at the rear of said hinge, and the bar 43 engaged and forced downward by said spring, exerting a downward force at the front of said hinge to aid in sustaining the beam, andbearing baek ward at its upper part against the transverse portion of said arch-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BAR'II'IOLOMEV.

Witnesses:

E. M. VooRHEEs, ROY KENNEDY.

ICO 

